Removed File Recycle Bin on Xiaomi: Where to Look, How to Recover and Clean

Delete an important file on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO You're not alone, you're not alone. MIUI Unlike Windows or macOS, where the basket is always in plain sight, Xiaomi smartphones have a different location depending on the file type and the shell version. Moreover, some applications (such as a gallery or file manager) have their own baskets that work independently of each other.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible locations where deleted files can be stored on Xiaomi devices, including hidden folders and system tools. You will learn how to recover photos, documents or videos even if the basket is empty, and how to set up automatic cleansing to avoid clogging the memory of the smartphone. MIUI 12, 13 and 14 – they fundamentally change the logic of working with remote data.

Before you start searching, remember that the shopping cart on Xiaomi is not universal. For example, files deleted through the Gallery end up in one store, and those deleted through File Manager end up in another. If you have used third-party apps (like Google Photos or ES Explorer), look for the shopping cart inside them. It is also important to consider that some files (like screenshots or downloads) can be deleted irrevocably, bypassing the shopping cart.

1.The basket in the standard Xiaomi Gallery

The most popular feature is photo and video recovery, and MIUI has a built-in shopping cart in the Gallery app to find it:

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with colored squares).

2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.

3. Select the Recycle Bin item (on some versions - Recently deleted).

It stores all media files deleted within the last 30 days (by default).

• 📤 Restore files one at a time or all at once (Restore button at the bottom of the screen).
• 🗑️ Clean the cart completely (button Remove everything).
• ⏳ Change the storage period (in the settings of the gallery).

If you don't see the basket item on the menu, it means:

• 🔍 Your version. MIUI Over 12 - Update the firmware.
• 📱 You're using it. POCO Launcher or custom firmware – the basket can be disabled.
• 🚫 Files have been deleted irrevocably (for example, through Files with the option "Delete Forever").

⚠️ Note: If you cleaned the shopping cart in the gallery, you can only recover files through specialized programs (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva.

2. basket in the application "Files" (File Manager)

The standard Xiaomi File Manager also has its own shopping cart, but it works differently than in the gallery.

• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel).
• 🎵 Audio files (MP3, WAV).
• 📁 Folders and archives (ZIP, RAR).
• 🖼️ Images if deleted through Files, not gallery.

To open the basket:

1. Launch the Files app (an icon with a blue folder).
2. Go to the Category tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select the basket.

By default, files are stored here for 15 days, but this period can be changed:

1. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner.
2. Select basket settings.
3. Set the desired period (from 1 to 30 days) or turn off the basket completely.

Open Files | Go to Categories | Find the Recycle Bin | Check the retention period in the settings-->

Feature: If you delete files through Explorer (e.g., in FTP mode or when connecting to a PC), they don’t end up in the MIUI Recycle Bin and are deleted permanently, in which case root rights or professional tools like Dr.Fone will be required to restore them.

3. Recycle cart in Google Photos and other third-party apps

If you use Google Photos to back up, deleted photos can be stored in its shopping cart, even if they are erased from the Xiaomi Gallery.

1. Open the Google Photos app.

2. Slip on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.

3. Choose the basket.

Here, files are stored for 60 days, then deleted irretrievably, and you can restore them by clicking on the photo and selecting Restore.

Other popular apps with baskets:

• 📱 ES Conductor: Menu → Recycle Bin (stores files for 30 days).
• 🎬 VLC: Removed videos are stored in Settings → Basket (14 days).
• 📝 WPS Office: Document basket (Menu) → Recently deleted).

⚠️ Note: If you delete a file through Google Photos and then erase it from the shopping cart, you can only restore it within 25 days via the web version of the service (photos.google.com.

4. Hidden.trash folder: where the shopping cart is stored at the system level

At the Android file system level (including Xiaomi), the basket is implemented as a hidden folder.trash. It is created in each memory partition (internal and on the computer). SD-The map contains temporary copies of deleted files to find it:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).

2. Enable the display of hidden files:

- On Windows: View → Hidden elements.

- On macOS: Command + Shift +..

3. go to the root directory of internal memory or SD-map.

4. Find the.trash folder (or.recycle on some firmware).

Inside it will be subfolders with names like trash-{random_id}, where the files are stored. They can be copied back to the main directories.

Limitations:

• 🔒 Without root rights, you won’t be able to see the.trash folder in some versions. MIUI.
• 🗃️ The folder is automatically cleaned when there is a lack of space on the device.
• ⚠️ Delete files through ADB or TWRP squash.

5. How to recover files if the basket is empty

If you do not find deleted data in the carts, try the following methods:

1. Check backups:

• 🔄 Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
• ☁️ Google Drive: Check the Backups section of the app.

2. Use programs to restore:

• 📱 DiskDigger (for Android, no root required to scan photos).
• 💻 Recuva or EaseUS (for PC, if you connect your smartphone as a drive).

3. Check the temporary folders:

Some applications (such as messengers) store copies of files in folders like:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/{package_name}/cache

Where {package_name} — Application ID (e.g. com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).

⚠️ Note: When recovering files through third-party programs, do not save them back to your smartphone, this can overwrite deleted data.

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If you delete files from SD-Take it out of your phone and connect it to your PC through a card reader, which will increase your chances of recovery, as you reduce the risk of overwriting.

6.Setting up automatic basket cleaning

To prevent the cart from clogging the device memory, set up automatic cleanup:

For the Gallery:

Open the gallery → Settings → basket.

Select Auto Cleanup and set a period (e.g., Every 7 days).

2. For Files:

- Go to the files. → Settings → Basket.

Activate Auto Clean and specify a limit (e.g. Clean at 80% memory fill).

For Google Photos:

In the web version, go to Settings → Storage Management → Auto-Delete.

Tip: If you often work with important files, turn off auto-cleaning and manually check the cart once a week to avoid accidental data loss.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Xiaomi users often face the following problems when working with the cart:

1. The basket is not displayed in the Gallery:

• 🔄 Update the Gallery app through Play Market.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes the basket appears after the reboot.
• 🛠️ Reset Gallery settings: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data.

2. Files disappeared from the basket ahead of schedule:

• 🗑️ Check if you have cleaned the cart manually.
• 📉 Maybe the autocleaning was triggered due to lack of memory.
• 🔍 Search by file in Files – sometimes the data stays in other folders.

3. You cannot recover files from.trash:

• 🔐 Get root rights or use them ADB access.
• 💾 Connect your smartphone to your PC and try to recover data via PhotoRec.

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If you regularly lose important files, set up automatic backups in Mi Cloud or Google Drive. This is the only reliable way to protect yourself from permanent deletion.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions